Sheridan Smith to star in new musical OPENING NIGHT by Rufus Wainwright and Ivo Van Hove

Photo credit: Oliver Rosser for Feast Creative

The world premiere of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night, a new musical with music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright and starring Sheridan Smith as Myrtle, will play at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End from 6 March-27 July 2024, it has been announced.

Directed and conceived by Ivo van Hove, Opening Night follows a theatre company's preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. But drama ignites behind the scenes when their leading lady is rocked by tragedy, and her personal turmoil forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives.

Sheridan Smith said: "The chance to work with the musical genius that is Rufus Wainwright and one of the world’s greatest stage directors Ivo van Hove was a once in a life time opportunity, and quite frankly if they’d asked me to read out the back of a cereal packet I’d have been there! But, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be cast in this fantastic original musical and to play the complex and challenging character of Myrtle”.

Opening Night has a book by Ivo van Hove, with set, lighting and video design by Jan Versweyveld, costumes by An D’Huys, sound by Tom Gibbons and Alex Twiselton, orchestrations by Rufus Wainwright, musical supervision and musical direction by Nigel Lilley, movement and choreography by Polly Bennett, and casting by Julia Horan CDG.

Further casting will be announced soon.

Tickets go on sale today (10 November) at 10am, with further information here.